In the old days, bribery was widespread in Russia. Without a bribe, it was impossible to solve any issue. What the petitioners brought with them, hidden somewhere under the floor, was not called a bribe in those days, but a "nose" or nose. If the nose was accepted, then one could hope for a successful outcome of the case. If it was refused, then the promise of good luck had already been given to the other side. Then the disappointed petitioner went back with his nose: there was no hope for a positive result. Hence the expression-leave with a nose and stay with a nose: to fail in any business.